Metro League Weekend Football Update 9-21-25

Week 3 of Metro League football delivered explosive performances, comebacks, and hard-fought rivalry clashes as teams continued to shape their early season identities. Rainier Beach stole the spotlight with a second-half surge, while West Seattle edged out Chief Sealth in a city rivalry, and Lakeside’s defense carried the Lions to a shutout win.

Rainier Beach 54, Ballard 17

What started as a tightly contested battle under the afternoon sun turned into a second-half showcase for the Beach Boyz, as Rainier Beach poured on 32 unanswered points to pull away from Ballard in a dominant victory.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair. After Ballard opened with strong field position, Vikings running back Zevion Watkins stunned the Beavers with a 76-yard touchdown on the team’s first offensive play. Ballard answered with a field goal and took a 10–8 lead after quarterback Eli Gebbie scored on a 15-yard run.

Watkins responded with his second score of the day early in the second quarter, putting the Vikings back on top. After a Ballard touchdown run by Gebbie reclaimed the lead, Beach closed the half with quarterback Esquire Williams connecting on a 21-yard touchdown pass to Oteko Mwamba, sending the Vikings into halftime up 22–17.

The second half was all Rainier Beach. Mwamba broke loose for a 51-yard touchdown run, and Williams followed with a 52-yard dash of his own. Marques Illi-Meneese added a 56-yard score to start the fourth, and Jayden Tyler capped the day with a 2-yard TD. The Vikings converted six two-point conversions overall.

Rainier Beach’s defense suffocated Ballard after halftime. Jay’Shaun Banks-Hall and Daniel Haynes recorded sacks, and Illi-Meneese added two more to shut down any hopes of a Beavers comeback.

Despite the loss, Ballard head coach Malik Prince praised Gebbie’s toughness: “I didn’t know he [Gebbie] could use his pads like that,” he said, referring to the QB’s willingness to absorb contact while fighting for extra yards.

Lakeside 13, Ingraham 0

Lakeside leaned on their defense and a standout day from kicker Aidan Streidl to notch a shutout victory. Streidl nailed field goals from 38 and 45 yards, while quarterback Connor Ward connected with tight end Anub Zekaryas on a 16-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter to seal the scoring.

Defensively, Kurt Esteban-Mejia led the way with 8 solo tackles, as the Lions stifled Ingraham all game.

West Seattle 17, Chief Sealth 10

In the annual Huling Bowl rivalry, West Seattle rode a balanced offensive performance and opportunistic defense to edge past Chief Sealth. Quarterback Desmond Parkinson completed 19-of-26 passes for 188 yards and one touchdown, while running back Jesse Hansen-Wilson carried the ball 22 times for 59 yards and a score.

LJ Moody was the go-to target, catching 12 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown, and finishing with 109 all-purpose yards.

The Wildcats’ defense played a major role. Miles Guidry and Ford Fitters each tallied six tackles and a tackle for loss, while Justice Nguyen recorded five tackles, an interception, and a fumble recovery. For Chief Sealth, kicker Ogi Petronijevic nailed a 52-yard field goal as time expired.

Lincoln 17, Franklin 6

Lincoln clamped down defensively, limiting Franklin to just 132 total yards to pick up their first league win. Franklin standout Steven Mpila led the Quakers with 11 tackles, while Corde Frazier added an interception and a forced fumble on a gritty defensive effort.

O’Dea 39, Seattle Prep 14

O’Dea bounced back from an early deficit to score 39 unanswered points and roll past Seattle Prep. After a shaky start, the Fighting Irish reasserted their control with a dominant second-half performance on both sides of the ball.

Eastside Catholic 1, Garfield 0 (Forfeit)

Garfield was forced to forfeit due to a shortage of available players caused by injuries. The decision was made in the interest of player safety.

Other Scores:

Bishop Blanchet 30, Roosevelt 23

Sultan 35, Nathan Hale 13

Player Spotlights – Week 3 Standouts

Zevion Watkins (RB, Rainier Beach)

· Scored two touchdowns, including a 76-yard opening score

· Set the tone with explosive runs that kept Ballard on its heels

Esquire Williams (QB, Rainier Beach)

· Accounted for three touchdowns (1 passing, 2 rushing)

· Added multiple two-point conversions and long runs, including a 52-yard score

Oteko Mwamba (WR/RB, Rainier Beach)

· Caught a 21-yard touchdown pass

· Added a 51-yard touchdown run and was a consistent threat in open space

Marques Illi-Meneese (RB/DE, Rainier Beach)

· Broke off a 56-yard touchdown run

· Added two sacks defensively, showcasing his two-way dominance

Desmond Parkinson (QB, West Seattle)

· Efficient through the air: 19-for-26, 188 yards, 1 TD

· Led the Wildcats to a rivalry win with clutch throws

LJ Moody (WR, West Seattle)

· Hauled in 12 receptions for 97 yards and 1 TD

· Key weapon in both short-yardage and deep-pass situations

Aidan Streidl (K, Lakeside)

· Hit two long-range field goals (38, 45 yards)

· Provided critical points in a shutout victory

Kurt Esteban-Mejia (LB, Lakeside)

· Recorded 8 solo tackles

· Anchored a Lions defense that didn’t allow a point

Steven Mpila (LB, Franklin)

· Finished with 11 tackles

· Continues to lead Franklin’s defense week after week

Corde Frazier (DB, Franklin)

· Forced a fumble and snagged an interception

· Played a crucial role in slowing Lincoln’s offense